Masterchop
22nd June 2007, 12:28
Well it all started when my wife wanted to go to Melbourne for her birthday,I wasnt that keen to spend a week shopping,so I thought I better sweeten the deal for myself.
Well bugger me what did I find? There was a trackday on at Phillip Island while we were over there. I signed up and then broke the news to her.
She took it very well considering that the Trackday was actually on the same day as her birthday.
When we arrived at Phillip Island a day early the first stop was the track,It was a perfect,clear and calm day, and there was a car race day on.I was getting quite fevered up by now.
Trackday comes,wake up when the alarm goes off at 6.30am,look out the window to see heavy rain,Fuck.
Still no stopping me now,and no refunds for rain anyhow,so Im going.
Got to the track on time at 7.45.
You cant even get through the gate at track security without the right paper work,QUITE different to NZ tracks.
Got through sign in and got my gear and bike allocated.
There it was sitting there on the Pit Lane at the Phillip Island GP Circuit,A near new K7 Gixxer 600 complete with race fairings, It looked the shit, I nearly got barred up, but I saved that for later.
First session,rain has stopped and the sky is clearing,but still freezing cold.Track is wet with some areas starting to dry,take easy for first lap just to see the track,I already new the layout but when you get out there it is very wide and smooth and very disceiving as to your speed.
Second lap turn up the pace, but getting very twitchy through the hayshed and turn twelve,gets better through this session.
Got of the bike and couldnt stop smiling,this track is the most amazing track,beyond comparionson with anything I have ridden on in NZ, I have raced on every track in NZ but nothing comes close(as we all new anyhow)
Session 2 and 3. Track now dry but still cold. I now am pushing the bike quite hard,getting the hang of the track, Turn One is so hard to get right, as you come over the rise on Gardiner Straight your mind says close throttle but infact there is still about 3 hundred meters to go to to the corner, getting better lap by lap. Also entry to Lukey Heights very hard to pick the right entry.
Came in from this session really buzzing,cause speed is good now.Looked over the bike and checked condition of tyres,noted the front tyre badly worn,mensioned it to the wife,then forgot about it,to fizzed up.FIRST BIG MISTAKE.
Session 4. weather the same.Freezing cold.Said to the wife that I would try to get out on track first because I was being held up alot,SHE QUITE RIGHTLY reminded me that it was a track day not a race day.so I went out mid field again.
Felt good and although the switchyness of the bike was gone the front often felt vauge,I put this down to the worn Dunlop Qualifer and the very cold track.Still, here I was on this track where all the Moto Gp and SBK stars hang out,keep going.SECOND BIG MISTAKE.
Fifteen minutes into 20 minute session coming through turn eleven,front feels bad,slide,Fuck,its going,FUCK ITS GONE. SLIDE ON ARSE.
Slid along way,then the usual bounce as you hit the gravel trap.Meanwhile bike is cartwheeling through the gravel,destroying itself as it goes.
Pick myself up unhurt,thats always good.looked at bike,oh shit.
Bike is a mess possibly a write off,quoted out at approx $7500 AUD. Bent subframe,bent rear wheel, maybe frame,entire fairing.Lucky only have to pay excess,$3500 AUD.BUGGER.
The crash aside,it was the most amazing track and totally recommended to everyone, the speeds are very deceiving because it is so smooth,and the whole event is very well run and very proffesional.
Sorry if I got a little carried away with this report and if you are still awake thanks for reading it.
PS.The sky opened just after this,and we had heavey rain the rest of the day,
so I didnt miss much riding.
Well bugger me what did I find? There was a trackday on at Phillip Island while we were over there. I signed up and then broke the news to her.
She took it very well considering that the Trackday was actually on the same day as her birthday.
When we arrived at Phillip Island a day early the first stop was the track,It was a perfect,clear and calm day, and there was a car race day on.I was getting quite fevered up by now.
Trackday comes,wake up when the alarm goes off at 6.30am,look out the window to see heavy rain,Fuck.
Still no stopping me now,and no refunds for rain anyhow,so Im going.
Got to the track on time at 7.45.
You cant even get through the gate at track security without the right paper work,QUITE different to NZ tracks.
Got through sign in and got my gear and bike allocated.
There it was sitting there on the Pit Lane at the Phillip Island GP Circuit,A near new K7 Gixxer 600 complete with race fairings, It looked the shit, I nearly got barred up, but I saved that for later.
First session,rain has stopped and the sky is clearing,but still freezing cold.Track is wet with some areas starting to dry,take easy for first lap just to see the track,I already new the layout but when you get out there it is very wide and smooth and very disceiving as to your speed.
Second lap turn up the pace, but getting very twitchy through the hayshed and turn twelve,gets better through this session.
Got of the bike and couldnt stop smiling,this track is the most amazing track,beyond comparionson with anything I have ridden on in NZ, I have raced on every track in NZ but nothing comes close(as we all new anyhow)
Session 2 and 3. Track now dry but still cold. I now am pushing the bike quite hard,getting the hang of the track, Turn One is so hard to get right, as you come over the rise on Gardiner Straight your mind says close throttle but infact there is still about 3 hundred meters to go to to the corner, getting better lap by lap. Also entry to Lukey Heights very hard to pick the right entry.
Came in from this session really buzzing,cause speed is good now.Looked over the bike and checked condition of tyres,noted the front tyre badly worn,mensioned it to the wife,then forgot about it,to fizzed up.FIRST BIG MISTAKE.
Session 4. weather the same.Freezing cold.Said to the wife that I would try to get out on track first because I was being held up alot,SHE QUITE RIGHTLY reminded me that it was a track day not a race day.so I went out mid field again.
Felt good and although the switchyness of the bike was gone the front often felt vauge,I put this down to the worn Dunlop Qualifer and the very cold track.Still, here I was on this track where all the Moto Gp and SBK stars hang out,keep going.SECOND BIG MISTAKE.
Fifteen minutes into 20 minute session coming through turn eleven,front feels bad,slide,Fuck,its going,FUCK ITS GONE. SLIDE ON ARSE.
Slid along way,then the usual bounce as you hit the gravel trap.Meanwhile bike is cartwheeling through the gravel,destroying itself as it goes.
Pick myself up unhurt,thats always good.looked at bike,oh shit.
Bike is a mess possibly a write off,quoted out at approx $7500 AUD. Bent subframe,bent rear wheel, maybe frame,entire fairing.Lucky only have to pay excess,$3500 AUD.BUGGER.
The crash aside,it was the most amazing track and totally recommended to everyone, the speeds are very deceiving because it is so smooth,and the whole event is very well run and very proffesional.
Sorry if I got a little carried away with this report and if you are still awake thanks for reading it.
PS.The sky opened just after this,and we had heavey rain the rest of the day,
so I didnt miss much riding.